Susan Eberle (center) has reluctantly become the face of the sex scandal rocking the Lakeland Police department. With her husband Ed (left) clutching her hand for support, Eberle decided to go public, announcing through her attorney (right) that they had filed charges with the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Florida Commission on Human rights.

Susan Eberle's attorney in Palm Harbor spoke on the 37-year-old's behalf, calling it one of the worst case of sexual harassment he'd ever seen in his three decades of legal work.

"Sue Eberle was forced to work in an environment rife with sexual innuendo, sexual proposition, sexual advances and unwelcomed sexual assault and battery," said attorney David Linesch.

Eberle has reluctantly become the face of the sex scandal rocking the Lakeland Police department. With her husband Ed clutching her hand for support, Eberle decided to go public, announcing through her attorney that they had filed charges with the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Florida Commission on Human rights.

The allegations include "false imprisonment, assault and battery as well as gross sexual harassment," said Linesch.

An FDLE investigation found that Eberle first had consensual sex with co-workers at Lakeland PD, but that the relationships became increasingly abusive.

Eberle told investigators she had been a victim of incest from the time she was a child, and thatshe felt she couldn't say "no."

"This obviously was exacerbated by the fact that the individuals engaging in this sexual harassment and assault toward her were sworn officers," said Linesch.

Police Chief Lisa Womack, who inherited the sex scandal, says her department is doing all it can to weed out the problem officers and supervisors. A dozen officers have left or resigned since Womack took over the two and half years ago.

Linesch says they've not yet filed suit against the department. They're willing to talk about reaching a financial settlement, he says.